First, let me say that we're all okay. We heard the news of the explosion while we were driving to my mother-in-law's cabin an hour north of Oslo. Fortunately, my mother-in-law is on vacation...she works in the area where the explosions occured. Everyone we know is safe and well. One friend of mine was downtown when the explosions happened, and was hit by glass blown out by windows. She only has a few scratches, and is not seriously injured.
Norway, I can say, is in shock. This is like 9/11 for them, especially since at least 30 young people have been killed at an island north of Oslo where they were at a summer camp for the Labor Party. The pictures of bodies floating in the water are horrendous.
Now the questions are starting to come. Why did we deserve this? What has Norway done? What have these children done, and the peaceful people enjoying their Friday afternoon?
But that's the thing about terrorism. It's about fear. Boil down the myriad definitions of terrorism and it basically comes down to this: The point of terrorism is to instill fear in a population, for reasons political and ideological. Information is still flowing in, and the Norwegian press is searching for witnesses and information about what happened today. The words on everyone's lips are, "Dette er uvirkelig -- This is surreal."
Yes, it is. Our apartment is about 2 km from the city center, and we are glad we are not there now. The Norwegian media is telling everyone to stay at home and not come out.
This is, sadly, innocence lost. Norway will not be the same, not for a long time, if ever. I hope that if this was an attack by Muslim extremists that people in Oslo will not take out fear and hatred upon those who peaceful Muslims who are part of Norwegian society. The next question is, how will Norway handle the aftermath?
I'm very shocked and horrified to hear all the news.
ReplyDeleteTrue. How is Norway going to handle this? I surely hope that the scenario you mentioned wouldn't happen - that Norway wouldn't start the same kind of hatred upon (peaceful) Muslims like the way DK has at the moment.
ReplyDeleteNorway has lost it's innocence. That is exactly what my thought was.
ReplyDeleteGlad you and your family are okay! My heart goes out to those who lost someone in this hateful tragedy.
ReplyDeleteWhat this serves to highlight is that the Scandinavian obsession with Islamaphobia and painting anyone who is muslim to be a potential terrorist has been grossly misguided. We've long been worried about the suicide and self harming statistics in Norway Denmark and Sweden. The home grown far right movements here are also a main concern, as are the mental health statistics. People are saying, how could this happen in Scandinavia..how could this be a Scandinavian that did this? In actual fact, the writing has been on the wall for a long time. Scandinavia is a pressure cooker, sealed off, far too right wing and highly hostile to racial minorities and it is no wonder the nationals are imploding.
ReplyDeleteOur prayers and thoughts are indeed with the Norwegians right now, but hopefully this will cause people to actually look..really look at the culture that could grow such crazed individuals as the sick and twisted person who slaughtered these poor people.
And now it is time for people to understand that terrorists can be any race creed or colour. Terrorism can also be institutionalised, as we see within the scandinavian model.
Our thoughts are with the victims and in this case, possibly the criminal. In what kind of state must he have been in to commit such an horrific crime? Better off dead himself probably.
Anonymous, I fully agree that terrorists can be any race, creed, or color. The definition of terrorism does not include particular religions or ethnicity, it is as it is.
ReplyDeleteI, personally, was quite unaware of a large right-wing extremist movement in Norway. Even now I don't know if you could consider extreme right wing politics as deep and wide within Norway. I've certainly run across groups like Norge for Nordmenn on the internet, but I've always assumed them to be fringe elements. But then, McVeigh wasn't backed by a large group, either. It is true it's the lone wolf elements who are truly dangerous.
I can say without a doubt that the man who did this is the epitome of a coward. Not only did he systematically execute teenagers, bombed innocent people completing their Fridays, but he threw down his weapons and gave up the minute he was approached by armed police. I guess he realized it's not so funny when the shoe's on the other foot. Not only is he a sick bastard, but a small, cowardly, pitiful excuse for a man.
So glad to hear you are safe and sound.
ReplyDeleteAnd I can say that from what I have read in the news thus far, the higher ups in Norway are handling this with the grace and knowledge typical of the Scandinavian way of life... I am just amazed at how they do not naturally lash out with vengeance. It is so different from how we deal with things in the US.
"We have met the enemy, and he is us"
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